Ajax councillor charged with selling liquor without a licence

Club accused of throwing New Year's party without license to sell booze

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AJAX -- Ward 2 councillor Renrick Ashby is facing three charges under the Liquor Licence Act. Coun. Ashby was photographed in September for his fifth annual Ajax Ride 4 Youth. September 5, 2012.

Ajax councillor charged with selling liquor without a licence

Ryan Pfeiffer / Metroland

AJAX -- Officials have charged owners of Nexx Lounge in Ajax with operating without a liquor sales permit. Among those charged is Ajax councillor Renrick Ashby, who is a co-owner. The charges stem from a compliance sweep conducted in December by Durham police, bylaw officials and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. A total of 17 establishments in Ajax and Pickering were charged. January 18, 2013.

Coun. Ashby is president of Nexx Nightclub and Lounge Inc., said Derek Hannan, manager of bylaw services for the Town of Ajax. Calls to Coun. Ashby's cell phone on Friday afternoon were not returned.

The charges come after a December compliance sweep in Ajax and Pickering bars and restaurants by Durham police, bylaw officers, firefighters and the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario.

To my knowledge and the information I've received,

Six businesses in Ajax and 11 in Pickering are facing charges. Among the 60 infractions between the businesses, 13 were under the Liquor Licence Act and the rest relate to municipal bylaws.

Police spokesman Dave Selby said officers are still working on filing all the paperwork, but the most serious infractions occurred at Nexx Lounge. Mr. Selby said the directors of Nexx Nightclub and Lounge Inc. were also facing charges but he did not have a list of their names available Friday afternoon.

Mr. Hannan said the Nexx Lounge charges relate to activity on Dec. 28 and Dec. 31.

The Twitter account for the nightclub includes a link to a party flyer boasting $100 bottles, $60 champagne and $4 Coronas on New Year's Eve.

"To my knowledge and the information I've received, no they did not have a liquor licence," said Mr. Hannan.

In addition to liquor act charges, Mr. Ashby is also charged with operating an entertainment establishment without a licence under the Town's bylaws. In addition to Mr. Ashby and Nexx, facing bylaw charges are Alan Paris, president of 1885001 Ontario Inc. which carries the lease at 90 Harwood Ave., 1885001 Ontario Inc. and 858241 Ontario Ltd., the company that owns the property where the bar is located.

The entertainment licence bylaw applies to bars as well as restaurants that predominantly sell liquor at a certain point.

"The restaurants that want to turn at 10 o'clock into a bar are required to carry this licence from the Town and that was passed in 2006 in response to major issues at RimRock," said Mr. Hannan, adding the Town has never received an entertainment licence application for Nexx Lounge.

RimRock occupied the same site as Nexx about six years ago. The bar site is located across the street from Ajax Town Hall.

Mr. Hannan said the investigation is still active and more charges are a possibility. He said Mr. Ashby's status as a councillor has no impact on the investigation.

"It's the same procedure we would have gone through if anyone else owned the establishment," he said.

Reporter Reka Szekely covers the City of Oshawa for Metroland Media Group’s Durham Region Division. Reka's social media column appears every other week. Contact her on Facebook, Twitter (@rszekely)